Because they had Apparated straight into Hogsmeade, Amanda and the others reached Hogwarts on foot with Headmaster Dumbledore long before the rest of the students.
They arrived at the Great Hall ahead of everyone else. Seated in the vast, empty space, Cho Chang and Marietta beside Amanda looked around in curiosity, as though seeing the Hall they had known for two years for the very first time.
It was as if they had never laid eyes on the Hogwarts Great Hall before.
Or rather, they truly hadn't—never seen it so deserted.
Between her two seniors, Amanda mentally reviewed the textbooks she had memorised for the year, paying no heed to their eager glances about the Hall.
Hermione and Harry were at the Gryffindor Table, deep in discussion.
Penelope had been whisked away by Professor Flitwick; the Professors had preparations to finish before term officially began.
With one of his own students back early, Professor Flitwick did not hesitate to enlist her help.
It wasn't until after lunch that Penelope re-entered the Hall, wiping sweat from her brow.
Only seven people were present, herself included; the Professors were still in their offices.
The house-elves had sent just enough food for them.
Penelope slid onto the bench beside Cho, bit into a large slice of pie, and kept dabbing at her forehead.
Seeing her usually composed senior in such a state, Cho blinked in surprise and offered her own handkerchief so Penelope could eat unhindered.
'Senior Penelope, what on earth did you do? You're drenched.'
Marietta stared at the fine beads of sweat still forming on Penelope's forehead.
'Don't ask,' Penelope sighed after swallowing. 'Professor Flitwick had me clean Lady Ravenclaw's statue in the Ravenclaw Common Room.'
'A whole holiday's worth of dust—nearly impossible to scrub off.'
Cho and Marietta nodded in understanding; no wonder.
As the founder of Ravenclaw House, Lady Ravenclaw's statue was always polished by students, never by house-elves.
After a summer's neglect it had grown filthy; fearing younger students would tire, Professor Flitwick had always done it himself.
But with Penelope around he decided to let her try.
It turned out the Young Wizards were sturdier than he'd thought.
Head lowered over her plate, Amanda listened and pondered.
The stone of Lady Ravenclaw's statue was indeed difficult to clean.
She reached that conclusion with perfect calm.
After lunch the seven of them lingered in the Hall all afternoon.
Only then did the other students finally stream through the doors.
Many Little Lions gaped when they spotted Hermione, Harry and Ron, swarming them to ask how they'd arrived so early and why they hadn't been seen on the hogwarts express.
The Little Eagles surrounded Penelope, Cho and Marietta. Noticing Amanda's lips moving silently, they assumed she was revising and left her undisturbed.
Immersed in her textbook, Amanda failed to notice Draco's venomous glare from the Slytherin table.
She might have missed it, but Penelope did not. Frowning, she motioned the boy opposite to shift left, blocking Amanda from Malfoy's view.
The boy obeyed without question; if the Prefect said it, he would do it.
'What's going on? Why's Malfoy staring at Amanda like that?'
'What does he think he's playing at?'
Draco had made no effort to hide his malice, confident the name of House of Malfoy shielded him.
Several Little Eagles caught the look and now narrowed their eyes at the Slytherin table.
Amanda had been instrumental in winning Ravenclaw the House Cup last year.
Though her face was cold and expressionless, a year together had taught them the truth beneath.
Behind that icy mask she was endlessly patient.
Call her name and she would answer, courteous if formal.
Her knowledge was vast; she could explain the most advanced topics without complaint.
Such an excellent, studious, polite junior had long since become their darling.
And now a serpent dared to glare? Had he asked their permission?
Cho and Marietta exchanged glances, then looked at Amanda.
Finding her unmoved, they relaxed and, with Penelope, recounted the scene in Diagon Alley.
'How dare he!' The boy who had shifted seats slammed the table, eyes blazing toward Slytherin.
He had called Hermione Granger a mudblood and insinuated that Amanda might not even be human.
How dare he? Amanda had all of Ravenclaw at her back.
She need only study and live as she wished; the rest they would handle.
Whispers swept the entire table. The first-years had not yet been Sorted, so only second- to seventh-years sat there.
The Little Eagles plotted dozens of ways to teach Malfoy a lesson.
That look had been unmistakable hatred; they would not stand by while he targeted their treasure.
Neither the female Prefect Penelope nor the male Prefect voiced any objection to their schemes.
Instead, drawing on their knowledge of the Professors, they suggested ways to avoid detection.
With Prefects adding fuel, Cho and Marietta joined the conspiracy.
While the action plan was being discussed, only Amanda at the entire Ravenclaw Table was left out of the loop; Cho Chang even considerately covered her ears with both hands.
She could tell that Amanda cared intensely about rules; if she heard their plan, it might make her uncomfortable.
So there was no need for her to know any of it.
Caught by Cho's sudden, gentle hands over her ears, Amanda stopped silently reciting her textbook and looked up at Cho.
Meeting Amanda's glassy, almost lifeless eyes, Cho smiled warmly and shook her head to signal that everything was fine.
Accepting the answer without the slightest curiosity or doubt, Amanda nodded and lowered her head to resume her silent recitation.
Thus, under the joint scheming of Ravenclaw's Little Eagles, a new prank plan was drawn up almost every single day.
Put a group of academic prodigies together and even their prank sessions are shockingly efficient.
Charms, Potions, even Alchemy and Ancient Runes—Ravenclaws, with their vast knowledge, can torment someone far more terrifyingly than Gryffindor's simple jokes.
Methods appeared in endless variety, every detail controlled to ensure Malfoy would be miserable without anything truly serious happening.
They guaranteed that, this school year, Malfoy would have 'excitement every day' and absolutely no spare energy to bother Amanda.
Poor Draco, who had been grinding his teeth and plotting something after learning his father couldn't take revenge thanks to Dumbledore's interference, hadn't even finished forming a plan before someone arranged his year for him.
The Ravenclaws' discussion lasted until the Sorting began; Cho finally removed her hands from Amanda's ears and gently reminded her.
'Amanda, the Sorting's starting. Put the books aside for a moment and watch the ceremony?'
Amanda turned to Cho with stiff movements and nodded. 'All right.' Then she focused on the new students' Sorting.
This year's intake to Ravenclaw House wasn't large, yet every new Eagle looked first toward Amanda, seated between Cho Chang and Marietta.
The famous second-year who had earned over eight hundred points for the House last year, her reputation had already spread among parents.
Coupled with her 'exploits' in Diagon Alley, practically no first-year failed to recognize her.
But seeing her blank face and the emptiness in her eyes, many little first-year Eagles couldn't help shrinking their heads.
Immediately the older Eagles beside them gently introduced Amanda, explaining she simply looked that way but was actually very kind.
'No matter what you ask, if Amanda knows the answer she'll explain it carefully.'
Penelope recommended Amanda to the new Eagles without the slightest exaggeration or concealment.
Hearing Penelope call her name, Amanda turned, listened, and calmly nodded.
'If you have questions I can answer, I will.'
Offering help within one's power is basic courtesy.
The first-years blushed and thanked their senior softly.
Their opinion of and fondness for Amanda rose.
'Senior Lin Yue, aren't you tired?' An ethereal, elegant voice sounded.
Amanda located the speaker unerringly: a little blonde girl with protuberant, rather dreamy eyes.
'Why would I be tired?' Unable to grasp her meaning, Amanda asked, though she felt no curiosity.
'You're dragging so many things.' The girl pointed behind Amanda—where nothing existed.
'I'm not dragging anything.' Amanda blinked; her mind told her nothing was there but the chair back.
'All right.' The girl nodded, then, as if remembering, stretched out her hand. 'I'm Luna, Luna Lovegood.'
'Amanda.' She politely shook Luna's hand, her expression unchanged.
At the Gryffindor Table, Hermione, about to pick up her cutlery for dinner, instinctively looked toward the Ravenclaw Table.
She wanted to check whether Amanda was eating slowly as advised, but she didn't spot her eating.
Instead she saw her shaking hands with a junior across Cho Chang.
A complicated feeling surged in Hermione—half happy that Amanda had made a new friend, half inexplicably sour at the sight.
Pressing her lips, Hermione took a large gulp of pumpkin juice and silently scolded herself.
'Hermione Granger, what are you thinking? Amanda is your friend; you know her situation. You should be happy she's found a new friend—nothing more.'
Even so, the sourness refused to fade.
Only when Amanda and Luna released each other's hands did the feeling quietly ebb.
Amanda keeps her promises, so she ate her dinner unhurriedly.
The sight left Ravenclaw Eagles gaping and even the Professors at the Staff Table pleasantly surprised.
After the surprise, everyone felt genuine delight.
Unfortunately, the delight didn't last long—especially for the Eagles.
After dinner Headmaster Dumbledore formally introduced, beside him, the peacock-bright Gilderoy Lockhart.
He announced Lockhart would be Hogwarts' new defense against the dark arts professor.
The smiles that had risen because Amanda ate slowly instantly collapsed; the Eagles stared in gloomy despair at the preening man on the Staff Table.
'Merlin's bloody—' They had still hoped Lockhart was merely visiting for the feast.
'Turns out he really will be our Professor?'
Listening to the surrounding groans, Amanda merely blinked calmly.
To her, any Professor would do; she only needed to learn from them properly.
The school makes no mistakes, her mind assured her.
Meanwhile Hermione, knowing full well Lockhart was a fraud, already planned to seek Amanda's help studying Defense Against the Dark Arts this year.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.